Having worked in Kuala Lumpur from 1972 until 1983, the ICRC returned there in 2001.

The Kuala Lumpur regional delegation aims to foster dialogue on humanitarian issues and international humanitarian law (IHL) in east and south-east Asia. It strives to gain a better understanding of the perspectives and concerns of the region's leaders, experts and national societies in order to obtain their support for ICRC activities worldwide as well as their involvement in the reflection on humanitarian issues in the region.

In the countries it covers the delegation encourages the ratification and implementation of humanitarian law treaties and the incorporation of IHL into military training programmes and university curricula. It also helps national societies develop activities that promote IHL.

The Kuala Lumpur regional delegation also provides support to other ICRC delegations in the greater Asia region for their IHL and communication-related objectives and strategies.